Conchita Wurst Is the Winner of This Year’s Eurovision Song Contest

Europe’s World Cup-style song competition took place in Copenhagen this weekend. Whatever your thoughts on Eurovision and its often ridiculous acts, the event still drew in a TV viewership of 120 million (another 11,000 people made up the live crowd). This year’s especially high ratings may have had something to do with the first-place winner, a bearded Kim Kardashian look-alike named Conchita Wurst. Also known as 25-year-old Thomas Neuwirth, Wurst hails from Austria and brought down the house by singing “Rise Like a Phoenix.”

Following the win, Wurst said, “This night is dedicated to everyone who believes in a future of peace and freedom. You know who you are — we are unity and we are unstoppable.” And Austrian president Heinz Fischer called Wurst’s success “not just a victory for Austria, but above all for diversity and tolerance in Europe.” Now if only The Voice could be this exciting.